Mandy Wilkins, centre, with friends and family, left, and with son Aaron, right. She was described by family as the 'life and soul' before losing a six year battle with Alzheimer's (Image: The family of Mandy Wilkins)

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Son Aaron said: "We were all devastated. It had a deep impact on all of us because we knew the outcome".

He added: "I struggled big time. To be honest we all thought she would live longer. She really deteriorated in the last six months."

Mandy Wilkins, 43, of Barcroft Street, Cleethorpes, sadly died at the Stallingborough Lodge Care Home on September 30. Pictured with son, Ellis

Aaron, a former Grimsby Institute student, said the family rallied together to try to help as much as they could.

He said: "Eight weeks ago she stopped speaking and by the end she was wheelchair bound.

"But we all pulled together to care for her. We did it for mum. We took on the responsibility to care for her and it became a 24 hour job.

"We had rotas because we all had to take our turn but all needed down time too. It was really, really hard."

Whilst Mandy's heartbroken children stepped up to the daunting challenge of having to care for their mum as her condition deteriorated, despite only being teenagers, they were supported by their mum's two closest friends, Anna Sheppard and Dawn Sullivan.

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Having already experienced the merciless disease that Alzheimer's is firsthand, once diagnosed Mandy laid out how she wanted to be cared for and did "everything she could" to protect the future of her children.

Mandy Wilkins, 43, of Barcroft Street, Cleethorpes, sadly died at the Stallingborough Lodge Care Home on September 30. Pictured with son, Ellis

Mandy and her children used to live in Blundell Avenue, but as her condition worsened Anna, a close friend to Mandy for 15 years, and Dawn, a childhood friend, made arrangements for the family to move just a few doors down from her in Barcroft Street, so she could be closer than ever to help with the caring.

Anna and Dawn, said: "It was so tough for the kids but they just got on with it. It was heartbreaking to watch.

"But they all pulled together for her sake and they did an absolutely amazing job. Me and Dawn are so proud of them. And I know she would be proud of them.

"They had to take on so much so quickly, but when her care got so complex, carers came in to take the pressure off.

"We all helped her the best we could and the kids couldn't do enough for her."

Mandy fought the disease bravely and was handed the opportunity to go to London for specialist medical trials between 2013 and 2015.

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She was placed on a care plan and administered a new drug for Alzheimer's, designed to slow down the cognitive deterioration of the disease by breaking the proteins that damaged the brain.

Mandy travelled to London around 20 times but unfortunately she suffered severe side effects and the trial had to stop after 6 months.

Georgia and Ellis took on the lion's share of the caring as Aaron, the oldest of the three, was often out at work.

Mandy Wilkins, 43, of Barcroft Street, Cleethorpes, sadly died at the Stallingborough Lodge Care Home on September 30. Pictured with daughter, Georgia.

Mandy and Georgia were inseparable as mother and daughter, and in a remarkable act of devotion to her mum, a heavily pregnant Georgia took the decision to undergo an induced birth two weeks early so that Mandy could have the opportunity to meet her grandson, Theo, who is now almost three weeks old.

Aaron was at his mum's bedside when she passed away.

He said: "It broke me and I just started roaring because I knew that was it.

"To see her in her last stages was really hard because she went from being really happy all of the time.

"She did the best she could and lasted six years.

"She was a mum and a friend to us. She was part of the gang. Our house was like an open house."

Anna and Dawn, added: "She always put the kids first. Her first thought when she was diagnosed was about protecting her kids. Until her last breathe she wanted the best for them."

A fun-loving character who lived life by her own catchphrase, "It's all beans", meaning everything was OK, Georgia spoke of how her mum was one of the most popular people she knew.

Mandy Wilkins, 43, of Barcroft Street, Cleethorpes, sadly died at the Stallingborough Lodge Care Home on September 30. Pictured centre left with family and friends

She said: "She was a bright, caring and loving person.

"She had so many friends and was popular with everyone. Her personality was bubbly and that always shone through.

"Mum never panicked about money or anything. She took everything in her stride. No one ever had a bad word to say about her.

"She always saw the best in people and people always saw the best in her."

A charity football match was held in memory of Mandy Wilkins who died from Alzheimer's. Teams get ready to play at King George V Stadium

A fundraising campaign has been launched to help the young family pay for funeral costs.

A memory walk organised by Mandy's school friends will also take place on Wednesday, October 18 at 7pm in Cleethorpes. Entry is £10 per person and will start from the Premier Inn on kings Road. Up to 50 people are expected to attend so far.

A funeral for Mandy will be held on Tuesday, October 17 at 1pm at Grimsby Crematorium.